National Committee for Modification of the Volstead Act

The American Federation of Labor's National Committee for Moderation of the Volstead Act was created in January 1931. It was headed by Matthew Woll, who testified before a Congressional committee that workers and organized labor opposed prohibition. Labor leadership argued that the 18th Amendment establishing prohibition was the first instance in American history when an amendment to the United States Constitution denied rights instead of creating or expanding them. The Committee's activities helped lead to the repeal of prohibition.